Electrical and mechanical safety in repair, maintenance, alteration and addition (RMAA) works

In Hong Kong, the repair, maintenance, alteration and addition (RMAA) sector becomes a more significant component of the construction industry with the implementation of the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) by the Hong Kong SAR Government. Around 2,000 buildings would be targeted each year under the MBIS and it is expected that the volume of RMAA works will continue to increase. The public consultation paper issued by the then Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau (2006) indicates that the number of private buildings over 30 years’ old in Hong Kong will rise to 22,000 by 2018. The condition of buildings becomes dilapidated as building age increases. Electrical and Mechanical (E&M) installations play an important role and involve a large number of practitioners. Among different types of accident, fall of persons from height and electrocution are the top two E&M works’ killers. The safety of E&M work has not received sufficient attention. Only a very limited amount of safety research on E&M works especially in the RMAA sector has taken place. This study aims to reveal the causes of accidents on E&M works in the RMAA sector and provide recommendations to improve the safety and health of E&M practitioners. The significance of the study lies in providing a thorough E&M accident analysis in the RMAA sector, for the first time. A systematic approach with multidisciplinary inputs will lead to the identification of the causes of accidents and the formulation of holistic and practical measures for preventing accidents on E&M related RMAA works.